Arts and Entertainment

My Top 5 gigs of the week (9–16 April)

Hey mates! I’m pretty buggered from the weekend, but The Phoenix is open again, The Smith Street Band’s new album is out (it’s pretty awesome too), and there’s a bunch of awesome stuff happening this week! So let’s do it all again!

If you’re reading this on Sunday, you’re very on the ball. This is a good thing because Magic Rob Universe are playing this arvo at A Bite To Eat in Chifley! It starts at 5pm, so you can still make it home for dinner! (technically this makes it 6, but whatever, I do what I want…)

Monday in Canberra is no excuse for slacking off, because the Bootleg Sessions are a thing! This week DJ Nate The Great from 2xx Local n Live has picked a handful of acts! I’m super keen to catch Dark Rose, whose unique sound combines Indigenous Australian music with modern Western culture. Joining him for the evening are Matt Wilson of Hearing Voices, Reporting to Charlie (Brendon from The Barren Spinsters new band), as well as DJ Nate’s very own surf band, Space Party!

ThursdaySleepwell & Speakeasy are heading to the front with a Autumn, Sleeping Døgs, and Lefty. I will definitely be here because all my mates are in these bands and they are the best bands ever.

This Brings us to the weekend!

Friday there’s a house show called Spotting in Canberra, featuring Spotting (melb), California Girls, Wivves & Earache at Crossroads. These bands are also very good, so you have no excuse to stay home on Thursday.

Sunday is right in the middle of The National Folk Festival, which is happening Saturday – Monday, and The Dead Maggies from Tassie are playing Saturday and Sunday nights, as well as Monday arvo! These guys are f#@kin legends! Songs about Van Diemen’s Land and pirates and s@#t. Always a winner. Check ‘em out at some point! There’s also a bunch of other great acts, too!

Next week I have a conundrum.

On Thursday Billy Bragg is playing at Canberra Theatre, but Bob Evans (Jebediah) is playing at The Front. Now Jebediah would be one of my earliest punk influences ever, but Billy Bragg is possibly one of theirs, (also, he’s f@#king amazing live) so I guess we have a week to debate this.